The Handmaid’s Tale meets Blood Red Road in Glass Arrow, the story of Aya, who lives with a small group of women on the run from the men who hunt them, men who want to auction off breeding rights to the highest bidder.

In a world where females are scarce and are hunted, then bought and sold at market for their breeding rights, 15-year old Aya has learned how to hide. With a ragtag bunch of other women and girls, she has successfully avoided capture and eked out a nomadic but free existence in the mountains. But when Aya’s luck runs out and she’s caught by a group of businessmen on a hunting expedition, fighting to survive takes on a whole new meaning.

My Review

Wow, you guys. WOW. This book blew me away! I knew I was going to love it from the very first page. (And that cover!!) The first chapter is explosive and I was hooked right from the start. Glass Arrow is a beautiful and wild ride!

The world building was epic! It painted a very vivid picture in my head, and I could easily see this being a movie. (It neeeeds to be a movie!) I felt like I was IN the world while I was reading. Not to mention the idea for this story is unique and interesting. It’s kind of scary to think about, too! Women are basically property and are sold for breeding rights. *cringes* I loved the dynamics of the society. The Watchers, the Pips, the Virulent, the Drivers – I could tell that Kristen put a LOT of thought into the world she created. It was all very convincing – I had no problem believing this world because Kristen totally sells it!

Aya won my heart from the beginning with her fiesty and defiant attitude. I loved that she never gave up and never conformed. And some of her inner dialogue made me love her even more, such as: I wonder how well she’d sing if I punched her in her skinny throat. Lmao!! I would think those things and she would say them!

There was only one time that she annoyed me. View Spoiler »When she used Kiran to try and break the purity rule. She wanted him to sleep with her only because she’d get Marked, not because she actually wanted to. It really irked me that she was using him like that after he’d tried to save her life. And then, when he refused, she assumed it’s because she’s not pretty enough. Or maybe he just didn’t want to be used? Maybe he only wants to have sex with someone who actually wants to have sex with him? « Hide Spoiler But even then I could see why she was doing it. Despite the fact that it was wrong, it conveyed how desperate her situation was.

I loved the characters so much! BRAX. OMG. Braaaax!!!! I adored him! View Spoiler »When he was first mentioned – where Aya was thinking about solitary and wondering if Brax would let her use him as a pillow – I totally thought it was going to be a male friend! I didn’t realize he was a wolf! Sneaky author, you :D « Hide Spoiler Brax was totally my favorite character, and that’s all I’m going to say because if you want to know more you need to read for yourself! I really liked Kiran, too! He was a very interesting character, and I was always wanting more of him (especially since he didn’t speak). View Spoiler »I knew he was going to speak eventually. I just knew it! Although, it would have been kind of cool if he never did speak, because how many characters can you think of off the top of your head that don’t speak at all? I think there have been 2 that I’ve read. « Hide Spoiler

And pretty much everything else needs to be in a spoiler tag because there are SO many awesome twists and surprises that I don’t want to ruin anything for anybody! (Again, you need to read it for yourself to find out!)

View Spoiler »1. LORCAN IS HER DAD OMG. I can’t believe I didn’t see that one coming! I didn’t even think twice, and it’s not like he was casually mentioned or anything – he was mentioned several times. But when Kiran said “She’s one of ours,” I was like, WAIT, what?! So cool! I loved the back story of her mom falling for Lorcan and getting Marked because they broke the purity rule for love.
2. BRAX….!!!!!!!! NOOOO BRAX NOOOO. I freaking bawled when Brax died! I was kind of afraid something was going to happen to him, and when it did, it really really sucked :( I still hate it, but the fact that I was crying my eyes out gave me even more of an emotional connection with this book.
3. I totally knew Kyna was Kiran’s sister from the beginning.
4. The Driver society is awesome! The vow of silence was so secret that everyone believed they were actually mute. How cool is that? « Hide Spoiler

Favorite quote

“But if trust was a thing you could hold in your hand, I would give mine to you. I’d let you have it forever and never ask for it back.”

Overall Assessment

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press I’m giving away not one, but TWO copies! And lucky for you, I get to see Kristen next Tuesday, which means that both copies will be signed AND personalized! The only rule is that you have to be following to enter, since shipping is out of my own pocket.

Great review!! I read this book a while ago and LOVED IT! But that’s no surprise as I’ve loved everything Kristen’s wrote! She is like the mastermind of dystopia, and I can’t wait to see what else she comes up with next!!

Oh excellent review! I have this one on my backburner! One I keep thinking and debating about, but your review has me convinced I need to read this one asap! Sounds like something I would love and I am always sooooo tempted to click those spoiler links but my stupid “smart side” tells me not to! Damn that chick! ;)

I have been DYING to read this book! I’ve heard so many great things about this book, and your review just put me over the edge. I have a great and terrible need. Thanks for writing hosting the review and giveaway! :)

I’ll admit that I read every single spoiler because I MUST KNOW IF IT WAS WORTH IT. But apparently it was :P I’ve been a bit leery because I’m not so sure how I’m feeling about the dystopian genre right now, but ugh your flailing makes me want it no matter what! And that cover really is gorgeous… I’m just really glad this is a standalone book too – especially in the genre. It seems like that never happens now!

I have read this one and loved it as well! I thought it was such an interesting idea and world, and the way the girls were handled was so creepy >.> My favourite character had to be the Driver, and I loved the slow burning romance in this one :) Glad you loved it!